Advice for Seniors: Make “Ground Up” Building Decisions

NEW HOLLAND, PA – 3 May, 2017 – These days Baby Boomers are quickly slipping into the category of “Seniors.” Many of those 55+ people are still active and focused on constructing new houses for either retirement or vacation homes.

If you’re a Senior, what should you know about new home construction? Do your research. Think from the “ground up” when talking to your builder so that you can start your home with a smart foundation decision.

“Many people plan all their lives to retire and construct their dream home,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls. “Seniors should research all their options to maximize the living area of a new home before it’s constructed. Having a warm, dry and insulated basement can add valuable space to the home for seniors to have a home office, hobby area or an additional living room.

“The damp-proof, pre-cast concrete foundation systems installed by Superior Walls are made to the specifications of an individual home, allowing senior homebuyers many options for customization. We can include built-in openings for easy-to-operate slider or casement windows along with sliding patio doors. And, the system is pre-engineered for wiring access or small plumbing elements, enhancing the customization aspects for the basement.”

According to Costello, requesting a pre-cast insulated foundation system means adding an extra floor of living space to a home. In many cases, this warm, dry basement setting can have a door with direct access to the exterior of the home, making it ideal for easy-access. Plus, thinking ahead to possible limitations as a Senior gets older, accessibility can easily be “designed” into a new home when starting with a Superior Walls foundation.

“A new home developed with universal design practices in mind can easily incorporate a pre-cast insulated foundation system with larger thresholds and easy-to-access windows,” says Costello. “These steel-reinforced concrete walls create a permanent barrier against sidewall water penetration, making the basement system damp-proof and ideal for expanding living space.

“Whether creating a home theatre with surround sound, a wine cellar and tasting room or a workshop area, this system takes away the image of an old, dank basement and transforms it into an easily accessible and energy-efficient living area within the home.”